Cave Rock Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Cave Rock Tunnel is a dual bore highway tunnel on U.S. Route 50
(US 50) along the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe
approximately seven miles (11.4 km) north of Stateline
, in Douglas County
, Nevada
, USA. To the Washoe
Indian Tribe, Cave Rock is considered a sacred place and the tribe has placed restrictions on recreational activities in the vicinity of the tunnel.
. There are numerous small caves adjacent to the south portal of both tunnels which give the rock its name. The tunnel is located between the towns of Zephyr Cove and Glenbrook
along the US 50 corridor. This portion of US 50 is a National Scenic Byway
, part of the Lake Tahoe - Eastshore Drive. The westbound bore is 153 feet (46.6 m) long and features exposed rock; the eastbound bore features a concrete liner and is 410 feet (125 m) long. The tunnels are an elevation of at approximately 6360 feet (1,938.5 m), about 80 feet (24.4 m) above the level of the lake.
. Originally the Lincoln Highway was routed along a single lane hanging bridge
and rock wall built in 1863. Recognizing the inadequacy of the single lane road, efforts began to improve capacity on the primary road to Lake Tahoe. The first bore was constructed in 1931, as part of a reconstruction of a 3 miles (4.8 km) section of the Lincoln Highway. Concerned about damaging Cave Rock, the project managers employed key people from the recently completed Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel in what is now Zion National Park
in Utah. The first traffic began flowing through the bore in mid-September of that year. Construction on the second bore began in 1957, when US 50 was widened to four lanes, at a cost of just over $450,000 (equivalent to $ million today). Coincidentally, both bores were constructed by Utah based construction companies.
tribe. The Washoe tribal leaders were not consulted about the construction of either bore, and were upset about the perceived desecration of their tribal lands. As time progressed the Washoe Indians have been allowed a larger role in the governance of the area and in recent years the tribe has restricted activities around the tunnel, such as rock climbing
.
U.S. Route 50 in Nevada
U.S. Route 50 is a transcontinental highway in the United States, stretching from Sacramento, California in the west to Ocean City, Maryland on the east coast. The Nevada portion crosses the center of state and was named The Loneliest Road in America by Life magazine in July 1986...
(US 50) along the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
approximately seven miles (11.4 km) north of Stateline
Stateline, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,215 people, 510 households, and 245 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,803.3 people per square mile . There were 562 housing units at an average density of 834.1 per square mile...
, in Douglas County
Douglas County, Nevada
Douglas County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of 2000, the population was 41,259. As of 2010, the population was estimated to be 46,997.- History :...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, USA. To the Washoe
Washoe people
The Washoe are a Great Basin tribe of Native Americans, living in California and Nevada. The name "Washoe" is derived from the autonym waashiw meaning "people from here" in the Washo language .-Territory:Washoe people have lived in the Great Basin for at least the last 6000 years...
Indian Tribe, Cave Rock is considered a sacred place and the tribe has placed restrictions on recreational activities in the vicinity of the tunnel.
Description
The tunnels carry U.S. Route 50 through Cave Rock, a mountain along the eastern shore of Lake TahoeLake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
. There are numerous small caves adjacent to the south portal of both tunnels which give the rock its name. The tunnel is located between the towns of Zephyr Cove and Glenbrook
Glenbrook, Nevada
Glenbrook is an unincorporated community in Douglas County, Nevada, United States. The community is named after the Glenbrook House hotel and is at an elevation of...
along the US 50 corridor. This portion of US 50 is a National Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
, part of the Lake Tahoe - Eastshore Drive. The westbound bore is 153 feet (46.6 m) long and features exposed rock; the eastbound bore features a concrete liner and is 410 feet (125 m) long. The tunnels are an elevation of at approximately 6360 feet (1,938.5 m), about 80 feet (24.4 m) above the level of the lake.
History
The tunnel dates back to the Lincoln HighwayLincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
. Originally the Lincoln Highway was routed along a single lane hanging bridge
Hanging Bridge
Hanging Bridge is a medieval bridge spanning the Hanging Ditch, which connected the rivers Irk and Irwell in Manchester, England. The first reference to the bridge was in 1343, when it was called Hengand Brigge, but the present structure was built in 1421, replacing an earlier bridge. Material...
and rock wall built in 1863. Recognizing the inadequacy of the single lane road, efforts began to improve capacity on the primary road to Lake Tahoe. The first bore was constructed in 1931, as part of a reconstruction of a 3 miles (4.8 km) section of the Lincoln Highway. Concerned about damaging Cave Rock, the project managers employed key people from the recently completed Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel in what is now Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is located in the Southwestern United States, near Springdale, Utah. A prominent feature of the park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and up to half a mile deep, cut through the reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone by the North Fork of the Virgin River...
in Utah. The first traffic began flowing through the bore in mid-September of that year. Construction on the second bore began in 1957, when US 50 was widened to four lanes, at a cost of just over $450,000 (equivalent to $ million today). Coincidentally, both bores were constructed by Utah based construction companies.
Tribal relations
The Cave Rock area is considered sacred by the WashoeWashoe people
The Washoe are a Great Basin tribe of Native Americans, living in California and Nevada. The name "Washoe" is derived from the autonym waashiw meaning "people from here" in the Washo language .-Territory:Washoe people have lived in the Great Basin for at least the last 6000 years...
tribe. The Washoe tribal leaders were not consulted about the construction of either bore, and were upset about the perceived desecration of their tribal lands. As time progressed the Washoe Indians have been allowed a larger role in the governance of the area and in recent years the tribe has restricted activities around the tunnel, such as rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
.